Mayor confronts fiscal constraints as state-controlled MTA fare hikes undermine transit affordability agenda
Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced immediate pressure on his signature transit affordability campaign promise when Metropolitan Transit Authority officials increased bus and subway fares to three dollars just three days after his January 1 inauguration. The 10-cent hike, while technically authorized by the previous Eric Adams administration and state MTA leadership, created an awkward political moment testing Mamdani’s credibility on the affordability agenda that powered his election.
Campaign Promise Meets Institutional Reality
During his campaign, Mamdani pledged to make all city buses free, describing the policy as central to his vision for an affordable New York City. He estimated the program would cost between 650 million and 778 million dollars annually, proposing to fund it through increased corporate taxes and taxes on high-income earners. However, the mayor has no direct control over the Metropolitan Transit Authority, a state agency governed by a board where the governor appoints the majority of members. Governor Kathy Hochul, facing her own reelection campaign, has indicated she sees insufficient budgetary capacity for such a program.
Political Response and Pragmatism
Mamdani responded quickly to the fare hike by riding the free Q70 bus route in Queens and recording the experience on social media. He posted: “What was clear right away was the relief this one bus line gives working class New Yorkers. Imagine if every bus felt like this.” The mayor reiterated his commitment to free buses while acknowledging the need to work with state authorities and transit officials. His messaging shifted toward emphasis on making buses “fast and free” rather than promising immediate universal fare elimination.
Precedent and Feasibility
According to CBS New York analysis, the MTA conducted a fare-free pilot program in 2023 that showed strong results including 30-38 percent ridership increases and reduced assaults on drivers, though it also created slightly longer wait times. City and State New York detailed how the proposal requires state legislative approval and sustained funding commitment neither Hochul nor the current MTA leadership has endorsed. Mamdani’s willingness to engage with the political constraints while maintaining rhetorical commitment to the goal positions him as pragmatic rather than abandoning the promise entirely.
